The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-12-23
WASHINGTON LETTER



WASHINGTON. D. O.. Dec 10, 1887.
Congress, although in session two
weeks, has as yet accomplished very
little work, mainly for the reason that
Speaker Carlisle, owing to the unusual
pressure brought to bear upon him for
choice committee places, has been OBJ
liged to defer the appointment Of his
committees until after holiday recess,
which will be from Dec. 22 till Jan. A.
The only really important committee
thus far organized is that on Elections,
which, for reasons personal to himself
Mr.. Carlisle requested the house TO APP
point--one of its duties being to decide
the issue between Carlisle and Thobe.
Apparently there is no good cause for
a contest, still as one has been iustitut-
ed by the misguided labor reformer, SO
called, it must be disposed OF accord
ing TO the forms of law. There can
he little doubt of the validity of the
kentucky's statesmans claim to his
seat.
1t is already evident that much of
the time of Congress during the pres
tnt session will be uselessly consumed
in the discussion of purely political
questions; but on the eve of what ia
destined to be one of the most exciting
and closely contested Presidential cam.
paigns in the country's history, this is,
perhaps, unavoidable. The first poll
teal TRADE of the session was deliver
ed, without the slightest provocation,
in the House, by the Republican lead
er, Mr.. Reed, of Maine, being a rather
feeble and fatulent arraignment of the
Democracy on the tariff question.
However, a few ringing sentences
from Messrs Ccx and Halch sufficed
to effectually silence the batteries of
The burly Boanerges of the Republi-
can party.
In the Senate that notorious cham.
pion of fraud, and vote-stealer, "Billr
Chandler, has presented an indictment
against four sovereign stat. s-South
Carolina, Florida, Mississippi and
Loulsiana-proposing to regulate their
Congressional elections, through the
medium of Federal Intervention.
handlers idea of regulating elections
vas exempll6ed by the Republican
ape of the electoral votes of three of
hese same States ia the canvass of
1876 =, and "Bill" realizes that the
support of these commentaries is nee
rssary for Republican success next
year. But Chandler will get nothing
h.t little cheap political capital out
OF his partisan resolution.
Probably the Senate bill that will
excite The most interest and discussion
$ that of Senator Cullom, providing
for the United States Postal Tele-
graph, appropriating four million dol
Lars for that purpoee and designating
a number of The principal cities of the
country to be connected by the pro-
posed lines; the bill also provides for
The appointment and regulation of
he employees If the Postal Telegraph.
During the ea'ly days of the st esslon,
While there is little business to demand
their attention, many of the gay and
Il stive congressman, who have doubt
SO forgotten their marital VOWS, are
| ielding their devotion to the charms
of the G ddy fair ones of the Capital.
In he Patent Office few days since
a salacious scandal came to light-the
principals being Congr, ssman from
Kentucky, and petite blonde beauty
the Office. A model attendant dis
covered them in compromising posi-
tion-hence the public exposure. The
talr clerk is protege of her admirer,
he having secured her place last win
er. Pending Investigation of the
case, the bewitchIng blonde is suspend
I'd from duty. This is mentioned as a
co mmon phase of Congressional life.
The indications are that there is
'ome opposition to the confirmation of
MIR. Lamar's nomination, but not
nough to defeat it. 1t Is hardly prob
ALE that the matter will be taken up
until after the holiday recess; then the
hree most important nominations will
j." acted upon in their regular order
Lamar, Villas, and Dickinson.
The recent reception in the city of
two distinguished Irish members of
he British Parliament, was an i'm
presslve demonstration of American
national sympathy for the sufferings
of Ireland, and fitting expr, ssion was
gwen TO this feeling by the eloquent
utterancts of several prominent Con.
gressmen.